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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Beardsley, Nehemiah, fl. 1775-1777 to Joseph Cooke

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.096 Author/Creator: Beardsley, Nehemiah, fl. 1775-1777 Place Written: Fairfield, Connecticut Type: Autograph letter signed Date: April 25, 1777 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 20.5 cm, Width: 21 cm Order a Copy

Two sets of orders on one page. First orders are to Joseph Platt Cooke and a colonel [name illegible] to muster the regiment immediately as the enemy is near Compo Hill, Connecticut. Instructs to march day and night and bring all the ammunition they can gather. Signed by G. S. Sele[missing text], Brigadier General. The second set of orders are to Captain Dan Town[missing text] from Beardsley who signed as Major. Beardsley states that he has received the above information and orders the companies in New Fairfield, Connecticut to march immediately. Content refers to the British attack on Danbury, Connecticut April 21-28, 1777. The American troops were outnumbered and failed to stop the British from marching back to there ships at Long Island Sound. Document is in poor condition and there are three areas of missing text at the top middle, right center, and lower middle of the page. Letter is incomplete.

Beardsley, Nehemiah, fl. 1775-1777
Cooke, Joseph Platt, 1730-1816

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